Best .40 S&W pistol for Concealed Carry?

I'm in the process of getting my CHL, and would like your help in deciding on the best pistol for me for CC. I have a GLock 22 and love it, but I'm thinking it will be too big for CC. Im 6 ft, 185 lbs and have pretty normal sized hands. Since I love my Glock, I'm kinda leaning towards a G27, but I know there are other good ones out there. What do you think is the best and why?? help me weigh out the pros and cons of some of the best options and narrow down my decision.
THanks!!

I'd kind of recommend one of the Springfield XD variants over Glock, especially if you're going .40. The .40 S&W round has known bullet setback issues, and this, combined with the Glock's unsupported chamber, can sometimes lead to disaster. Especially if the same round has been chambered more than once. Glocks are good guns, and in any other caliber are relatively problem-free, but virtually all "kabooms" involve .40's. For a carry gun, I would not want one in this caliber.

This is NOT a Glock-bashing post, and I don't want to see a ton of people taking offense and getting this guy's thread locked. Keep it High Road and on-topic.

guyfromohio

February 7, 2012, 06:04 AM

I never took to the feel of the G26. Maybe gen4 has improved that. I'd look at the G23 before a G27. I love my sig 239, but similar in size to the 23. How about the EMP by Springfield Armory? Pricey, but I've read outstanding reviews.

At the end of the day, I'd get comfy with the Glock that I have. Get a good belt. It matters more than a great holster. Your size should be able to hide the bigger Glock.

jon86

February 7, 2012, 07:36 AM

but I'm thinking it will be too big for CC.

I would try that puppy out before sinking hundreds of dollars into a new gun. Buy a good gun belt and a couple of quality holsters. There will be times that you can carry it for sure, like in the winter. You may find it easier to carry then you imagine.

A lot of people find that the g27/g26 is easier to carry then the g17/g22. I have found that if I can hide the baby glock, I can hide the full size. The most difficult dimension for me to conceal well is the thickness, and both sizes are the same thickness. A lot of people's mileage's may vary.

71Commander

February 7, 2012, 08:02 AM

The better question would be which 40 is better for concealed carry and shootin.

The best 40 to carry is without a doubt a Kahr PM40. Nothing even comes close.

wildehond

February 7, 2012, 08:13 AM

I carry my G22. No one at work knows I am "packing".
All about a good holster and the right clothing.

vaherder

February 7, 2012, 08:17 AM

Walther P99ASC in 40 or PPS in 40. Both should be on your short list.

k soze

February 7, 2012, 08:59 AM

I second the vote for the PPS. Just so you know the S stands for slim and it has three different mag options that either make it feel like a full size gun or make it disappear when concealed.

allaroundhunter

February 7, 2012, 09:32 AM

I love the size of Glocks 19,23, and 32 models, but another great option is the Walther PPQ or and M&P .40c

mooner

February 7, 2012, 09:33 AM

Personally, my favorite is the M&P40C. The M&P's feel right in my hand. If I already had a G22, I would probably compare the G27 with the M&P to see which I liked best.

The slim guns like the Kahr CM40 and the Walther PPS never felt right to me. They certainly are slimmer and would work better for concealment without changing the way you dress.

My situation has me carrying a S&W 442 when I need something smaller than a double stack with 10 or so rounds. I believe the PPS has a 6 round mag in it's smallest form and the CM40 has a 5 round mag. Not enough more than my always reliable snubby. Buffalo bore has me very close to 9mm power, so the extra oomph is not a huge deal to me. I already have the 442, so obviously my needs may be different than yours.

sho'nuff

February 7, 2012, 09:59 AM

glock 27 is my go to carry piece.

acmax95

February 7, 2012, 10:40 AM

I carry a G23 but if I was buying again I would take a long look at a Ruger SR40c.

I compared the G. 27 to the XD 40 Sub-Compact and went with the Glock based on it being a little smaller (in height), thus a little easier to conceal. Both have the double stacked magazines which add to the width but allow for higher round capability. For maximum concealment of a 40 Cal., a single stack magazine might be a consideratioin if you are willing to sacrifice number of rounds in the firearm.

I must say that the above Glock comment was the first ever I have heard this about the Glock (27) 40 Cal....??????

Outdoorsman1

charliehustle10

February 7, 2012, 11:16 AM

If you already own a Glock, it might be cost effective to stick with the same platform. Any holsters with an open bottom will fit both guns. Furthermore, you can run G22 mags in the g27/23 if you want. I run G17/19 mags in my 26 and although it may look odd, it works just fine. Cheaper then having a bunch of different mags/holsters to buy and then have them lying around.

David E

February 7, 2012, 11:35 AM

"cheap" is not usually the way to do something "right."

However, in this case, the cheap way is the best way: buy a good holster and belt (in that order) and carry your G-22

Even if you decide you want something smaller later, you'll be glad you have the required gear for your G-22

A G-27 is quite a handful, even for experienced hands. The G-23, while a personal favorite, isn't enough smaller than your G-22 to justify buying one when you already have and enjoy your 22

I favor a IWB rig from KyTac that I'm currently using to comfortably conceal my G-17

A good belt is also a very good idea, such as the one from Cobra Gunskin, but a good holster has priority over the belt.

easyg

February 7, 2012, 12:19 PM

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n165/allenXdog/HPIM6487.jpg

eam3clm@att.net

February 7, 2012, 08:40 PM

No one can tell you what will be the BEST for you and your situation. There are numerous quality and reliable pistols chambered in 40s&w that can fit the role of a concealed carry gun. Even your G22 can serve as a concealed carry gun. If you like the glock platform then there is no reason to change. The 27 may not be the best range gun to go shoot hundreds of rounds but with proper training the recoil is manageable for follow up shots. If you have a range where you can shoot a few different guns then it may be worth while to go shoot a few. My G27 is my go to gun year round and my G23 usually gets carried in jacket weather.

RoboDuck

February 7, 2012, 10:32 PM

Kahr P40 , the longer grip makes it a lot easier to control than the PM40 model.

Snowdog

February 7, 2012, 10:52 PM

I don't know about the "best" for the job, but I chose the M&P40c for that purpose. I do primarily carry it OWB in a belt holster under a jacket, but do on occasion carry it IWB in a tuckable holster and haven't any problems printing if I dress right.
A Storm Lake .357sig barrel rounds out the package.

iblong

February 8, 2012, 06:55 AM

Im not a huge fan of the 40,I only own one.
It is the Glock 27 and I like it a lot"best is subjective",I Chose it because its one of the easiest sub compact pistols to control with a fair capacity.
It Is not prety but it is accurate,compact,shootable and dependable.

surfinUSA

February 8, 2012, 08:06 AM

The G27 is an excellent gun. Contrary to the Wardens warning. The issues he talks about blown way out of proportion.

There are a whole lot of Glocks in 40 S&W out there that never experienced any problems and there are a whole lot of other guns that are chambered in 40 S&W that never experience any problems.

Regardless of the brand, most guns that blow can be traced back to a bad reload. And any semi auto can result in bullet setback when a round is repeatedly chambered.

If you like the G27, buy it an enjoy it. They are a great little gun.

mingo

February 8, 2012, 02:18 PM

My favorite round is the S&W 40. It has nothing to do with safety. Not good advice for someone to make a statement that it isn't a goo ccw caliber...that's just nonsense....I carry a FS M&P 40 most of time. One good option for a BUG is the charter arms 40 revolver that needs no moon clips. Just a thought.
http://www.charterfirearms.com/products/Charter_Pitbull_74020.html
Gunblast video on their home page too.

I posted about this on general handguns...some folks have already seen this, however I think it's worth a look for those that havent.

mingo

FIVETWOSEVEN

February 8, 2012, 04:25 PM

I love the first few responses telling you what's best. :p

I would recommend the largest gun that you like and can comfortably conceal. The Walther PPS in .40 is a good choice and I would recommend you check that out but also check out the Glock 23 and 27. The holster I would recommend is the Crossbreed Super Tuck. It holds the gun close to your body and is tuckable.

memphisjim

February 8, 2012, 04:51 PM

i had a glock 27 back in the day and wished i had gotten the 23 (my buddies 23 just felt better in the hand) i now carry a 19 same size as the 23 with no problems
since you have the 22 already i might lean towards the 27

guyfromohio

February 8, 2012, 04:56 PM

I guess we were confused by him asking for us to help weigh the pros and cons of the best options.;)

Narwhal

February 8, 2012, 06:02 PM

M&P 40 compact in my opinion.

The M&P was designed around the 40 and the compact combines decent capacity (10+1) with acceptable size & weight for concealability. Like most compacts, you can carry a full sized magazine with a grip extension as your reload. It's my go to gun in the summer, in the winter I will often carry an M&P 40 full size if my clothes allow it.

W.E.G.

February 8, 2012, 06:10 PM

The Glock 22 is not even remotely too big to concealed-carry.
Get a proper holster that is compatible with your wardrobe, and you will be all set.

If you still really want a smaller pistol, there are plenty of them.
...and you'll STILL need to get a proper holster that is compatible with your wardrobe.

VENTURERIDER

February 8, 2012, 07:25 PM

I like the S+W40's. My iwb is the M+P 40 and my owb is the 4056 Tactical 40.
Imay look at the Ruger SR in the future to play with.

mongo4567

February 8, 2012, 07:45 PM

I really like the kahr pm40 for its size and weight. If I wanted something bigger I would go for a glock 27 or 23.

breacher

February 8, 2012, 07:58 PM

this might sound strange - Taurus PT740 Slim. it really is a good little pistol. the trigger is way better than my Glock 27 and it's thinner and lighter and most importantly 100% reliable. I can shoot circles around any baby Glock with it.

the trigger feels like a crisp 1911. I did a short review of it on THR back in Sept. after I shot it in the NRA PPC Nationals and took 3rd place in the "off duty pistol" classification ahead of some very expensive custom 1911 pistols.

I do carry a Glock 23 on duty though because my dept. requires a 4 to 5 inch barrel for duty pistols. I'm not a Glock hater, I own three, but I've really been surprised and impressed by the Taurus Slim.

JO JO

February 8, 2012, 08:28 PM

XD40sc IWB with crossbreed supertuck type holster works for me just fine,

KNOCKDOWN

February 8, 2012, 09:36 PM

HK P30 in .40 or if you really need to have something smaller, then another vote for the Walther PPS in .40.

jjmc2001

February 8, 2012, 10:04 PM

I am exactly your size and own a Glock 22. The most important part of concealed carry is to carry all the time. Therefore I have migrated to a single stack weapon as they are much more comfortable to conceal. Good choices are cm/pm 40, PPS, or a CW 40. Nothing wrong with a G27 but it is too thick for me to carry all the time in any attire.

abq87120

February 8, 2012, 10:25 PM

I started CCW with a G26. It was snappy so I put finger extensions on the mags. That improved things a whole lot. But the grip was almost as large as a G23. Sold the G26. Bought a G23. Also got a couple of LWD barrels and can shoot three calibers from that one gun. My EDC holster is the Galco Tuck-N-Go. $30 or so with shipping. Wear it at 2,3 and 4:00. I adjust sit slant to fit my contours.

http://www.opticsplanet.com/s/tuck-n-go/

wunderkind

February 8, 2012, 11:05 PM

G27-automatic choice if you already own & like the G22.

greenlion

February 9, 2012, 06:19 AM

Modern GLOCKS have just as much chamber support as anything else out there. GLOCK changed this years ago, as anyone who shoots GLOCKS knows. The new GEN 4 GLOCKS were also designed around the .40 caliber round. That is precisely why a few of the changes were made.

Viottato

February 9, 2012, 06:36 PM

I bought a Glock 27 back in the mid 90's. I've since bought and carried bigger and smaller handguns, but more often than not, I keep reaching for my G 27.

I think its the best compromise of size and power. I can still conceal it in the summer with an IWB holster and an untucked shirt. I shoot it well, and I have absolute faith in it.

wheelyfun66

February 9, 2012, 07:09 PM

G27 is a no-brainer!
You already own a Glock, a G27 will accept the same magazines...
Get it now!
Carry it!
Love it!

LJ-MosinFreak-Buck

February 9, 2012, 07:47 PM

Didn't they fix the case support issue?

Byrd666

February 9, 2012, 07:48 PM

I often carry a SA EMP 40 and I have no problem doing so. Like you, I'm tall, 6'-2 and skinny, 185-190 lbs. and used often worry about "printing" but, with this pistol and a custom made holster, along with proper loose fitting and "busy" shirts, no problem. And I feel comfortable with the 1911 format.

Now the downside for some. It is a 1911 format. It's only 8+1 and a steel frame and that means more weight than a polymer and less rounds as well. And it's about 2-2.5 times that of what the Glock, XD, Kahr, etc cost. What I think really doesn't matter much, as you'll be carrying it and not me. Just go with what is comfortable for you and work with that .

greenlion

February 9, 2012, 08:38 PM

The G23 is one of my favorite guns. I wouldn't want to go any smaller than a G27 in .40 cal. The tiny Kahr PM40 is a handful in .40 and past the point where I feel comfortable about not flinching.

WALKERs210

February 9, 2012, 08:54 PM

At first I was going to start a post asking about "The Best Glock" for me. Then decided to start looking at other post and attempt at gathering enough information to make a somewhat educated decision. I have always been one of those that JUST didn't like a Glock, no real solid reason and have never really read anything that would make me sway away from them. But tonight I was contemplating getting another carry gun and thought the Glock's weight might fit the bill. I have always carried either a full frame or compact 1911, I know the platform and still think I could disassemble one blind folded (well maybe). Due to health issues I don't have alot of strength in hands to rack the slide on some but still wanted to get away from carrying my .380. So guess I will spend the rest of the night reading and go to the gun shop tomorrow and start serious look over of the Glock.

RevDerb

February 9, 2012, 08:57 PM

Ruger SR40c. I've owned several G27's and a G23 and I like the Ruger heads and tails above the Glocks.

carbuncle

February 10, 2012, 02:07 AM

I love my PPS in .40, but the G27 would be a great option as well.

kingkeoni

February 10, 2012, 02:30 AM

I conceal carry a Glock 23, 40S&W every day.

It is very concealable and just as accurate as a full sized pistol.

Since you're already accustomed to the Glock platform, you'll be hard pressed to find a "better" gun for you.

MYREDTAIL

February 10, 2012, 07:41 PM

I own a SA XD40 service model 4" BBL & I love this gun for my EDC.?

Trad Archer

February 11, 2012, 07:13 AM

I asked myself the same question a year ago. I tried a large variety of pistols, but the one that felt right for me was a Bersa UC Pro. I bought it and I'm glad I did. I carry it in a IWB holster. I love it.

Good luck with your choice.

Snowdog

February 12, 2012, 11:13 AM

The Bersa UC Pro series are indeed good pistols. Mine's a UC9, but I believe it's the same size as the UC40... it's an underrated pistol without a doubt.

Dr_2_B

February 12, 2012, 12:58 PM

We must be near-twins. Same height, same weight, but my hands are about one notch under normal sized. If I were you, I'd be considering the G27 first and the Kahr PM40 or CM40 second. Just depends on how compact you want to go. The PM40/CM40 is a bona-fide pocket pistol if you want that. And of course it can be carried on your waist also. Otherwise the G27 conceals great and will accept your G22 mags for spare.

kmbrman

February 12, 2012, 03:05 PM

I like the Gen 3 23 as a carry weapon. The 4'' barrel is correct length for .40 S&W and it still shoots as well as a Glock 26 in the accuracy dept. On the IWB holsters it is just as easy to conceal as the Baby Glocks.

kmbrman

February 12, 2012, 06:24 PM

In an earlier post ,I told why I prefered the 23 as a carry weapon. This is a target fired into a 3'' target dot from 39' away from a tree limb for a rest. The group is 2'' and is a full mag. of Win. Personal Protection 180 JHP. Several of the holes are more than one round in a hole, if you don't see 12 rds.